Apathy Symptom Profile and Behavioral Associations in Frontotemporal Dementia vs Dementia of Alzheimer Type

Abstract
Apathy is increasingly being recognized as a common and clinically significant neurobehavioral syndrome. Previously reported prevalence of apathy in patients with clinically diagnosed dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), the most common type of dementia among elderly individuals, ranges from 36% to 88%.1 A similar prevalence of apathy has also been reported in frontotemporal dementia (FTD; 60%-90%).2-4 Although physicians recognize the prevalence of apathy in patients with dementia, little has been reported about the pathophysiology, characteristics, and behavioral associations of apathy.